Nairobi News

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will pay a monthly salary of up to Ush5 million to each athlete who bagged the country medals in the just concluded Commonwealth games.

President Museveni announced on Sunday that all the medalists will be added to the government’s payroll.

The five winners will be paid Ush5 million (Ksh 135,000) for each gold medalist, Ush3 million (Ksh 81,000) for the one silver medalist and Ush1 million (Ksh 27,000) to each of the two bronze medalists.

Uganda bagged gold medals in the Men’s 10,000m and Men’s 5000m through Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei.

Stella Chesang bagged another gold in the Women’s 10,000m, while Munyo Solomon Mutai bagged silver in men’s marathon.

Mercyline Chelangat bagged Bronze in the Women’s 10,000m, while boxer Juma Miiro got bronze in the Men’s 46-49kg.

Kenyans online cheered Museveni’s move, while Ugandans questioned how the salaries will be financed if the winners increase in numbers.

Some users expressed concerns over the already employed athletes working in the Ugandan police service.

I made a promise that whoever wins a gold medal at an international competition would get a monthly salary of Shs5m, silver Shs3m and Shs1m for bronze. The 5 medalists today will get onto the payroll. I have also been told of some arrears to other athletes, they will be cleared. pic.twitter.com/BEfU6B0AQT

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) April 22, 2018

Wish Kenya would borrow this from you Mr. President of Uganda.. This is a long lasting plan they won’t die in poverty after retire.

— ??et Msafiri Keya (@Poet_Keya) April 23, 2018

But these decisions are not supposed to be debated upon??? Which international events??? What if numbers grow Kenya style?????????

— Emmanuel Mugabi (@GabiEmma) April 22, 2018

It doesn’t make sense, to me. For starters, most of these athletes are attached to either @PoliceUg or Prisons, meaning, they are on payroll. Are they to be on the payroll twice? Why not an increment just?

— Francis Otucu (@OtufraJ) April 22, 2018